Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-20
THE LAD ENGINEER,
And the Story of His Fearful Revenge.

one VI inc DesI men bnab ever pulleu
throttle" said veteran engineer in a
crowd Of railroad employees. "If I
thought it wouldn't tax the patience of
you too much I would tell you about it
although" he said, after moments
pause, II have never dared speak of the
accident, or incident, since it happened,
in 1868, believe"
s'Let's have it, Uncle Tommy" spoke
up the crowd as one man, who well knew
Uncle Tommys undoubted ability at
storytelling when the ject involved
railroading.
s'To begin WITH" said he, after the
crowd had become quiet and assumed a
listening attitude, sit is necessary to
tell you about my engineer, in order that
you may the better appreciate the
story, and be less bitter in your denuncia-
ton of his conduct on the night in ques-
tior, for the story 1 am going to tell you
happened at night.
'His name was WendalI-Earl Wendall,
a very pretty name you will say, but it
was very appropriate, for 1 will go on re
cord as saying that he was the handsom-
est man that old Tom ever laid eyes on.
When I say handsome, why, that is what
l mean exactly, for he was really and
truly handsome. and what made him still
is, you wouldn't think he knew it from
his actions. He was just simply good,
handsome Earl Wendail of the 49,
had been firing for him about eighteen
months. and had come TO love him as a
brother. This same Earl Wendall that
| am telling you about was In love. He
loved one girl, and the Lord only knows
how many girls all along the line were
bead over heels in love with him. Dur
ing my run with him never day passed
shat some shy maiden didn't send him
bowers, or some little token of friend
ihip, as we were passing through. Some
ZINES they would come themselves, then
again they would send a messenger. 1t was
that way all along. 1 have seen Earl's
box full of flowers. He would accept
them in every instance simply with a
bow and a faint smile, returning his
thanks TO the sender, throw them into
his box and that was the last of them I'M
til they withered; then he would raise the
J boxAid and cast them out, seemingly I'M
Iconscious and little caring of the pang
thtt such action would cause in the hearts
of he fair donors had they known the
fa@ of their flowers.
Earl appreciated ell this, [ am conf
dent, but a. | have said, he was Ia love,
not with the girls at every station, but
with ore girl, and he was determined to
keep his heart for her and her only.
How this action was appreciated by the
favored one you will know after awhile.
"About fifty miles from Providence
was the supper house for our train. It
was called Bush supper house, Bush
was jolly old German, and was univers-
ally liked by che railroaders and travellers
generally. Besides being father of the
Bush house he was the father of as pref
ty girl as ever took step. Her name
was Bessie, and she was Earl Weadalrs
idol. l oan't begin to describe her, but
she was just the girl, thought, for Earl
Wendall. Earl thought the same way,
and had made her promise long ago to
share his fortune with him, All the rail
road men knew of Earrs and Bessie's en-
gagement, and speculation was rife as to
when the wedding was going to 'come
off,
Occasionally Earl would come from
the Bush house with his flowers. These
had separate place from the rest
and / have known him to haul one of
her boquets month, and then part with
ii with sigh.
Zone day Earl said to me:
Uncle Tommy, how do you like
Bess?'
"'Mighty well, Earl L replied; Miss
Bash is what call a first-class little wo-
man.
Earl was silent for moment. Then
he said:
Pm glad to hear you say so, Uncle
Tommy, Well Bess and are going to
get married next Sunday week.
Earl always called her 'Bess' for short.
lis that sol? answered /, feigning sur
prise. ! expected as much, Earl, but 1
thought it would be too inquisitive to
ash you
$ Il should have told you," he answered
but thought it best to keep it secret,
at least until now. | want you to be at
tho wedding. 1t will take place at her
fathers house,
This conversation took place on
Wednesday, 1 believe. When we stopped
for supper again it was on Friday. It
took us two days to make the round
trip, as we were on the mixed freight,
and you know they generally take their
time.
when we walked into the hotel office
Bessie introduced a stranger to Earl and
myself, as a Mr.. Eubanks. 1 did not
think any thing about it much but I
noticed dark scowl came over Earls
handsome face.
LII DIS oCooiC Noo IdtuOI
attentive to the stranger and was less so
to Earl, but thought that was only nat
ural, az he was stranger and Earl an
Old acquaintance. 1t was one of old
bush's hobbies to make every stranger
feel at nome while ct his house. PrOba
bly, this was more to gain custom than
any thing else; 1 don't know However,
Earl ate his supper in silence, and was
off again to his engine before I was
half through. left the stranger and
Bess in the Office together, chatting very
pleasantly.
"sDo you know Mr.. Eubanks, Tom p,
asked Earl when got to the engine, put
ting great deal of stress on The Mr.
part of his question.
"sI do not replied. 'Why?'
Nothing he replied.
"We made the balance Of the run in